UK productivity compared with the G7
In 2025 the UK had the 4th-highest output per hour of the seven G7 countries with figures for that year: $85.56 an hour. The range ran from $61.77 an hour in Japan to $104.74 an hour in the US. The simple average across the 7 was $86.86 an hour, a difference of $1.29 an hour from the UK's figure.
| Rank | Country | 2025 (US$ an hour) | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States UK v United States | $104.74 | $68.69 |
| 2 | Germany UK v Germany | $102.69 | $69.62 |
| 3 | France UK v France | $96.05 | $68.47 |
| 4 | United Kingdom | $85.56 | $59.50 |
| 5 | Italy UK v Italy | $80.36 | $58.34 |
| 6 | Canada UK v Canada | $76.81 | $53.27 |
| 7 | Japan UK v Japan | $61.77 | $46.54 |
The UK over ten years
From 2016 to 2025 the UK's figure was highest in 2025 ($85.56 an hour) and lowest in 2016 ($59.50 an hour).
The UK's figure was higher than the average in two of the ten years from 2016 to 2025 and lower in eight.
In 2016 the UK ranked 4th of the 7 countries with a figure; in 2025 it ranked 4th of 7.
No country changed places with the UK between 2016 and 2025.
Country by country, 2016 and 2025
- United States: $104.74 an hour in 2025, 1st; $68.69 an hour in 2016, 2nd.
- Germany: $102.69 an hour in 2025, 2nd; $69.62 an hour in 2016, 1st.
- France: $96.05 an hour in 2025, 3rd; $68.47 an hour in 2016, 3rd.
- United Kingdom: $85.56 an hour in 2025, 4th; $59.50 an hour in 2016, 4th.
- Italy: $80.36 an hour in 2025, 5th; $58.34 an hour in 2016, 5th.
- Canada: $76.81 an hour in 2025, 6th; $53.27 an hour in 2016, 6th.
- Japan: $61.77 an hour in 2025, 7th; $46.54 an hour in 2016, 7th.
How the OECD measures it
The OECD's labour productivity measure is GDP divided by the total hours worked by everyone in employment, converted into US dollars with purchasing power parities for that year so that countries' price levels are taken into account. Hours come from the OECD's own estimates, built to be comparable between countries.
Countries compared: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The table uses the latest year for which the UK and at least three-quarters of the countries the OECD covers have a figure, so every value is for the same period.
Why this differs from the UK's own figures
The ONS's headline productivity figure is output per hour worked, published as an index that shows growth over time, using gross value added and the ONS's own estimate of hours. The OECD's figure is a level in US dollars, using GDP, its own harmonised hours and purchasing power parities. The two can show different changes because of these choices and because each is revised at different times.
The UK's own latest figure, with its definition and release dates: UK labour productivity (output per hour).
Sources and receipts
Every value on this page was read from these addresses. The SHA-256 is the fingerprint of the file as downloaded, so a later change at the source can be detected.
- https://sdmx.oecd.org/public/rest/data/OECD.SDD.TPS,DSD_PDB@DF_PDB,2.0/.A.GDPHRS._T.USD_PPP_H.V.N._Z.PPP?st…
OECD, Productivity database · read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
7d31e560934e791b… - OECD: Productivity databaseThe publisher's page for this data, indicator GDPHRS.
Common questions
Where does the UK rank for output per hour in the G7?
OECD figures for 2025 put the UK 4th of 7, counting from the highest, at $85.56 an hour.
Which G7 country has the highest output per hour?
The US, at $104.74 an hour in 2025 (OECD).
Which G7 country has the lowest output per hour?
Japan, at $61.77 an hour in 2025 (OECD).
What is the G7 average output per hour?
The simple average of the 7 countries with figures for 2025 is $86.86 an hour. The UK's figure is $85.56 an hour.
How has the UK's output per hour changed since 2016?
OECD figures give $59.50 an hour for 2016 and $85.56 an hour for 2025; the ten-year chart above shows the years in between.
Is this the same as the UK's official figure?
The ONS's headline productivity figure is output per hour worked, published as an index that shows growth over time, using gross value added and the ONS's own estimate of hours. The OECD's figure is a level in US dollars, using GDP, its own harmonised hours and purchasing power parities.
More comparisons
- UK inflation compared with the G7
- UK national debt compared with the G7
- UK unemployment compared with the G7
- UK GDP growth compared with the G7
Compare any two countries on GDP, inflation, unemployment, debt and life expectancy: country comparison tool.
These pages state each body's figures and the UK's position among them. They give no view on whether a figure is high or low. To report an error, send a correction request.